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National College and all of its campuses in Tennessee are accredited by national accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Our class sizes are smaller, with an average of 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio...

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Continues Quest for Excellence in her Education and Career

As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Kristie Purcell embodies the “Semper Fidelis” motto, always faithful in her quest for excellence and in her commitment to her goals. It was that determination to succeed that led Kristie to earn her degree in the information systems engineering (ISE) program at the Akron Area Campus in 2014, which in turn allowed her to advance into a position as a configuration management specialist at ReliabilityFirst Corporation.

Kristie was working in an administrative position at ReliabilityFirst, a company that audits bulk power systems in over 13 states, when she enrolled at American National University – determined to take the actions needed to move up in her career. “If you’re not happy with what’s going on in your life, you’re the only person that can really, truly impact change,” she explained. “I wanted to make it to that next level, and where I was at I needed the [degree].”

As a student at National, Kristie liked the structure and the challenges that the ISE program offered. She also appreciated the support of her instructors, including ISE department chair Richard Crislip, who were always willing to come in early or stay late to assist her. “They were very encouraging, very helpful,” she recalled. “When you have that kind of experience, it helps you to want to succeed more.”

As she neared the end of her program, Kristie was presented with the opportunity to apply for the newly created configuration management specialist position at ReliabilityFirst, and she was hired after earning her ISE degree and her certification in configuration management. “I really enjoy what I’m doing because it touches all aspects of the business,” she said, adding that her IT skills come into play throughout her day.

For those looking to continue their education to achieve career success of their own, Kristie suggests sticking to the fundamentals and striving for excellence in all that you do. “You will get what you put into this,” she advised. “Don’t stay in that rut. We all have that ability to reach goals. It’s not easy all the time, but it’s definitely worth it.”

A- U.S. Marine Corps veteran Kristie Purcell enrolled in the ISE degree program to advance into a higher position with her employer.

B- To achieve career success, Kristie advises sticking to the fundamentals and striving for excellence in all that you do.

National College is a private college founded in 1886 and encompasses 6 campus in the state of Tennessee. National College offers short term and associate degree programs one would expect to find at a medical/technical college or business school; continuing education and IT certification; as well as bachelor's degrees at the Bristol campus. Fields of study include Accounting, Administrative Office, Business Administration, Computers, Information Technology, Medical and Healthcare.